Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Why is it....
Doug
>that collectors of pockeknives consider anything made before 1970 to be "old" or more collectable, while other woodworking tools don't have much collector status unless made prior to WWII? One would think that at least as many-if not more-people carried knives than owned planes so scarcity shouldn't be an issue. What gives?
Re: Why is it....
James Watriss
>I can't speak to the pocketknife issue, but I can say that the machining on the pre-WWII planes is much better. Generally, as you go back, the quality increases anyway, but I have planes from current day back to almost or over 100 years ago, and the older ones are almost invariably better made.
Re: Why is it....
Todd Hughes
>As James alludes to i think it has to do with quality. Most tools took a hit quality wise shortly after WWII and is the same with pocket knives after the 1970s when I believe most started to be made overseas. Even with pocket knives pre war and older examples will bring much more normaly then later ones.For example a Case XX Tested from the 1920s is worth much much more then a Case from 1950. Also is harder to find an older tool or knife that is in excellent condition then it is a new example since they saw more use so that drives the price up. Rariety does affect the price but more important is the name, a tool or knife might be rare but still worth less then a more common one that more people are interested in and looking for. A shelton plane mint in the box is much rarer I would imagine then say a Stanley Bedrock in very good condition but the Stanley will out sell it several times over because people are interested in Bedrocks and no one wakes up in the morning saying "Gee hope I find that mint Shelton today!".....Todd